Pumpkin Patch

We planned to find a pumpkin patch to visit over the weekend with Patrick and Sarah's family.  I just assumed we'd head out to Schnepf Farms again, but on Saturday it was SO hot that I told Mike I couldn't do it.  I knew if it was THAT hot...we'd all be sunburned, sweaty, and miserable.  Mike and I looked for pumpkin patches north of the Valley and found one that sounded perfect.  All the reviews were great, and it was just outside of Prescott in Chino Valley.  Everyone agreed that Freeman Farms would work, we figured out a time, invited Mike's parents, and that was that. 

We headed out the door and up north to *hopefully* much cooler weather Sunday morning.  We arrived at the farm around 1pm...we wandered around, Molly got her face painted, we ate, Blip danced on a little stage, walked around the pumpkin patch, and then found a carousel.  Blip LOVED the carousel at Disneyland, and although this carousel was a little smaller the Disney's...he LOVED it.  And loved it.  And loved it.  Blip would have been content to stay on the carousel all afternoon.

We made him take a break to ride in a little train, and he also went with Grampa and Daddy on a hayride...pulled by Clydesdales.  Our boy was just happy to be outside.  He ran around as much as he could...and would have been perfectly content for us to leave him there forever, I'm sure.  What a fun place to grow up.  

Blip was introduced to his very first petting zoo.  He liked the miniature horse, the cow, and the goats....but he LOVED the pig. Every time Blip touched the pig, he squealed. They both did.  The pig would squeal, and Blip would laugh and laugh.  He enjoyed touching the duck and chicken, too.  This last week or two he has really started to pick up which animal makes what sound, and "Duck Duck" says "quack quack".  So far we've gotten a "quack quack," "cluck cluck," "mooo," "woof woof," and a "meow".  He knows a pig says "oink oink," but he hasn't quite gotten that one down yet.

His vocabulary has exploded over the last several weeks.  We are amazed at all the words he can say!!  Blip says, "turtle," "car car," "truck," "see you later," "moon" (and he points/looks for the moon), "plane" (when he hears/sees them), "go go," "boo,"  "my daddy," "bye," "hi," "Momma," "Dadda," "Boppa" (Grumpaw/Grampa), "Nana,"....the list goes on and on.  I should try to write these words down as he starts to say them. Blip also signs quite a bit still, too.  I love that he communicates so well with us.  I honestly think being able to communicate with him so much for so long has helped us avoid many a meltdown. We've honestly never had a full on meltdown...yet.  We know it's coming, but feel blessed that his little fits are far and few between.

He has his own version of the word "Fish" minus the "F" sound...so I started working with him last night by showing him how to say the "F" sound.  I pretty much copied what I've seen Richelle doing with Raelynn or her own kiddos...I'm not trying to pretend I have any sort of clue what I'm doing, but it worked!!  By tonight he was mimicking both of us and saying, "F"...not quite the word fish yet, but it's definitely working.

This child of ours is so incredibly happy...and content almost all the time.  Of course he has his moments...and so do we, but for the large majority of the time, he is a joy to be around.  He is learning to clean up, put things away, he has learned to listen when we tell/ask him to do something (although it's a work in progress...).  Blip  has a fun personality.  He doesn't seem afraid of anything or anyone...he's just happy to be.  And he loves to "go go"!!

Traveling to the pumpkin patch was a nice drive.  It was nice to get out of the house and spend some time out in the gorgeous weather and with a part of our family.  We enjoy spending time with Ken, Pat, Patrick, Sarah, and the kids so much.  It doesn't happen as often as we'd like, but now that the boys are getting easier (easier?? LOL) it will be fun to get them together more often.

We love our pumpkin patch tradition, and hope to continue it every year.  We loved Freeman Farms quite a bit.  We were happy with the weather, the farm, the people, the employees, the activities, and mostly- the smaller, less carnival like atmosphere.  It was very much what we were looking for...the perfect way to spend a Fall day with family.